Despite the passage of a federal consumer protection law, far too many debt collection agencies violate the law by implementing overly aggressive debt collection tactics.
The primary reason for the continued violations of the law is because third party debt collectors such as TL Thompson & Associates, Inc. make an incredible amount of money chasing down consumers and forcing them to pay off delinquent credit card and personal loan accounts.
A company responsible for tracking down a consumer to pay off an outstanding personal debt might have purchased the debt from the original creditor for as little as 25 cents on the dollar.
Enacted by the United States Congress, the Fair Debt Collection Act (FDCPA) represents the federal consumer protection law that far too many bill collectors violate. The FDCPA makes it illegal for a debt collection agency to threaten you in any way.
According to the FDCPA, a third party debt collector cannot threaten you with physical harm, nor can it threaten to garnish your wages and/or any of your bank accounts. In addition, you do not have to tolerate the false statements made by a bill collector regarding your debt.
What Defines False Statements?
One of the most common false statements a debt collection agency makes is to claim it will file a lawsuit against a consumer or threaten to put the consumer in jail for not paying off a personal debt.
Although a third party debt collector like TL Thompson & Associates can file a lawsuit, the company cannot tell a consumer of the company’s legal intentions. A threat to jail someone for not paying off a delinquent credit card or personal loan balance is even more ludicrous.
The United States penal code does not punish consumers that do not meet their financial obligations. There are not, and there will never be debtor prisons operating inside the United States.
![Did Tl Thompson & Associates, Inc. Make False Statements?*]()
What Does Material Mean?
The false statement provision of the FDCPA clearly outlaws making false statements regarding consumer debts. However, numerous court decisions issued after the passage of the sweeping federal consumer protection law have added a stipulation that consumers must prove to win claims against lawbreaking debt collection agencies.
You must demonstrate that the false statements made by accompany such as TL Thompson & Associates, Inc. had a material impact on how you reached financial decisions. In the case involving threats to incarcerate you for not paying off a debt, the false statement might have motivated you to close every bank account.
File a Claim Seeking Monetary Damages
Under the FDCPA, you have the right to seek monetary damages because of the material impact false statements had on your financial decision making process. You can file a claim that asks for just compensation to cover the costs of medical treatment.
Some consumers suffer from physical distress symptoms because of the inordinate amount of stress false statements can trigger during debt collection efforts. You also can ask for injunctive relief, which is a court order barring a debt collection agency from contacting you regarding your debt.
Never allow a debt collection agency to bully you by making false statements. Schedule a free initial consultation with a highly rated consumer protection lawyer who specializes in handling FDCPA cases.
Additional Resources
- Are You Being Called By TL Thompson & Associates, Inc.?
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against TL Thompson & Associates, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to compensation.